Holder for dispensing containers



y 1949- c. H. GOODPASTURE 2,

HOLDER FOR DISPENSFNG COIiTAINERSi Filed D90. 8f 1945 w m m w.

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Patented May 24, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HOLDER FOR DISPENSING CONTAINERS Charles H. Goodpasture, Chicago, 111.

Application December 8, 1945, Serial No. 633,808

Claims. 1

My invention relates to an improved holder for dispensing containers, such as a box or container for dispensing facial tissues.

It is an object of my invention to provide a holder of simple and inexpensive construction which can be easily secured to a wall.

My holder is particularly designed for use in combination with a box of regular dimensions, and it is a further object of my invention to provide in combination with such a box, a holder therefor into which the box may be readily inserted, and from which the box may be readily removed. However, the principles of my invention may be applied to other articles than boxes or containers of regular shape. I

That embodiment of my invention which is herein disclosed is a holder for a box of facial tissues. Facial tissues have numerous uses about the household, especially in the kitchen, bathroom and garage. The box in which such tissues are sold is generally provided with a slot, and the tissues are so folded that they may be withdrawn or dispensed singly through the slot. Due to this convenient form of packaging, the householder often desires to mount the box on the wall, and some manufacturers provide their boxes with tabs so that the box may be mounted on a wall by This is an unsatisfactory expedient however, for the tabs, being of cardboard, generally tear long before the tissues are exhausted. For instance, the withdrawal of a tissue through the slot, is often done with a jerk, and this puts a strain on the tabs which they are not well designed to meet.

My holder, being of a more rigid material than cardboard, is well adapted to withstandthe stress imposed on the parts with the withdrawal of the tissues. In the preferred form of my invention, the holder constitutes a wire frame, on which are hingedly mounted two loops of a size to closely embrace at least two oppositely disposed wall portions of the box. The arrangement of th parts is such that the resilience of the wire provides a tight grip, while at the same time, it permits easy insertion of the box.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a holder which is collapsible, thereby increasing the commercial desirability of the same from the packing and shipping points of view.

With reference now to the drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like parts.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of my invention, the box being shown in phantom;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the holder and box; and

Fig. 3 is a view like Fig. 2, but showing the parts in a changed position.

The holder comprises a backing member in the form of a rectangular wire frame I0 having horizontal spans 20, and vertical spans 2i. The frame comprises a single length of wire, the ends of which are secured together as indicated by the reference numeral II, either by welding, or by other suitable means. The top horizontal span 20 is provided with two small loop portions or eyes I2, by means of which the holder may be mounted on a wall I! by nails I3. The eyes 12 are disposed in the plane of the loop I0.

Both the top and bottom horizontal spans 20 are provided with four small loop portions forming eyes I4 which are disposed in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop ID. The eyes I4 provide pivot points for the box supporting members I5. These members I5 are preferably U-shaped pieces of wire, the free ends of which are bent over as indicated by the reference numeral I6 so as to interlock with the eyes It.

It will be seen that when the frame Ill is secured to the wall by nails I3, the box supporting members I5 swing fully into and out of the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in which they are perpendicular to the wall II. A box I8 is disposed within and supported by the members I5.

The horizontal spans 20 are spaced from each other by a distance somewhat in excess of the height of the box I8. The vertical spans 2| are spaced from each other by a distance somewhat less than the length of the box I8. The length of the box supporting members I5 is somewhat less than the width of the box I8. Thus, when the members I5 are disposed perpendicular to the wall, the distance between the vertical portion of the members I5 and the plane of the frame I0 is substantially identical to, or slightly less than, the distance between the front and back surfaces of the box I8. Thus the box is securely gripped along its front and back surfaces between the vertically disposed portions of members I5 and the vertical spans 2|.

When a box is inserted into the holder, the members I5 are swung outwardly and back toward the wall, and the box is placed against the frame, with its back surface contacting both of the vertical spans 2 I. Then, as one of the members I5 is swung forwardly, the operator pulls on the vertical portion of the member I5 so that it clears the corresponding corner I9 of the box. This results in a flexing of the horizontal spans 20, as shown in Fig. 3. As soon as the member I5 clears the corner I9, the tension may be relaxed as the member I is swung into its perpendicular position. In like manner, the other member I5 is brought into perpendicular position.

The eyes M are disposed inwardly from the vertical spans of the frame by a sufficient distance to permit of easy operation. On the other hand, this distance must not be too great, as the angle between the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 positions of the right hand member l5 should be comparatively small.

The box may be mounted with its slot facing either forwardly, upwardly, or downwardly. Furthermore, since the height of the. box is not a critical dimension, insofar as cooperation with the holder is concerned, this holderpermits the use of a box designed to hold smaller quantities of facial tissues. In general, I have found that the length and width of boxes in which facialtissue is sold is substantially standard, the principal variation being in the height.

If desired, screws rather than nails i3v may be used. It is preferable in. mounting the box not to drive the nails orscrews all the way in, but.- to leave sufiicient distance between the head of the screw and the wall to permit the. necessary flexing of: the horizontal spans 20.

Although only a preferred embodiment of my invention has been. shown and described herein, it is obvious that numerous modifications and changes may be made therein without depart.- ing from the spirit of my invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a box and a holder therefor, said holder comprising arectangular wire frame having flexurally resilient horizontal spans spaced from each other by a distance greater than the height of said box, and vertical spans spaced from each other by a. distance less: than the length of saidbox, and a pair of U-shaped box supporting members hingedly mounted on said horizontal spans and spaced inwardly by a comparatively short distance from said vertical spans to permit said box-supporting members to be pulled forwardly as they are swung over the corners of said box, thereby flexing said horizontal spans.

2. A holder for a box comprising a rigid U- shaped boxv holding member: having a vertical portion for engaging the front surface of a box,. a pair of horizontally disposed fl'exurally resilient members on which said U-shaped member is pivotally mounted, and means to secure said fl'exurally resilient members to a wall: or. the. like so as to permit displacement away from the wall of that portion of said resilient member to which said U-shaped member is attached.

3. A holder for a box comprising two inelastic U-shaped box holding members each having a vertical portion for engaging the front surface of a box, a pair of horizontally disposed fiexurally resilient members on which said U-shaped members are mounted, means to connect said horizontally disposed members together to the end that a box may be resilient gripped between the vertical portions of said U-shaped box holding members and said connecting means, and means providing a hinged connection between the ends of said U-shaped members and said horizontal members at points horizontally spaced from said connecting means whereby the distance between said vertical portions and said connecting means may be increased by pulling said box supporting members forwardly to flex said horizontal members.

4. A holder by means of which a box may be secured to a wall or the like, comprising a backing member having means by which it may be secured to a Wall, and box supporting members hingedly mounted on said backing member, said box supporting members being substantially U-shaped inelastic arms having vertically disposed portions for engaging the front vertical surface of a box, said backin member includin a pair of horizontally disposed flexurally resilient members spaced from each other by a distance greater than the height of the box to be supported andto which said box supporting members are secured to permit said vertical portions of said arms-to be displaced forwardly as said arm is swung around. the front corner edge ofa box into box supporting position.

5- A holder for a dispensing box or the like comprising av rectangular wire frame forming '19. backing member, means for securing. said frame tothe surf-ace ofa wall, and two U-shaped. rigid members pivotally mounted on. opposite spans of said frame to provide means for embracinga box, said spans being .flexurally resilient.

CHARLES H. GOODPASTURE.

REFERENCES CITED l he following references are of record .inth'e file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

